King's bison shoot stirs anger of conservation groups

They are among the world's most endangered creatures. But the wild European bison, whose distinctively shaggy appearance featured in prehistoric cave paintings, was last night at the centre of a diplomatic row after the king of Spain shot one during a trip to Poland.

Conservation groups have bitterly criticised the Polish government for allowing Juan Carlos to hunt the rare, elusive bison on a visit to Borecka forest, one of Europe's last surviving areas of primeval woodland. Poland's foreign minister, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, accompanied the king, who also shot deer and pheasants, Polish television reported.

The bison is among the world's rarest animals; there are only about 1,600 remaining. Last night the Polish Society for the Protection of Animals, the country's oldest conservation group, condemned the government's decision to allow the bison to be shot.

"It's a total scandal," its spokesman, Wojciech Muza, told the Guardian. "We have sent a letter to the government in protest. The only reason the animal was shot is because Poland wants to have a good relationship with Spain. The bison was a victim of EU politics. The laws should protect animals from being hunted, and not allow kings of Spain to shoot them."

The hunting trip happened just before the Spanish general election, at a time of unprecedented diplomatic solidarity for Spain and Poland, each of which had been embroiled in a row with France and Germany over EU voting rights.

According to Polish newspaper reports, the king paid €6,900 (£4,600) for the privilege of shooting the 650kg bison, which was marked down for slaughter last year.

"We made everything ready for him," said the forest manager, Krzysztof Wyrobek. "We ensured his peace and security. He was a special guest. The forest guards were vigilant in ensuring that not even a mosquito was allowed past our cordon."

Under Polish law these bison can be shot provided a special committee selects them beforehand.

Yesterday, however, Stefan Jakimiuk, the manager of Bialowieza forest, the only other area in Poland where bison roam, said shooting them was "not a good idea".

"The bison already has enough problems," he said. "We don't have enough forest for them and there is also a problem with genetics because they are all descended from a few individuals. The area where they live should be enlarged."